Free From Royal Humiliation Case, Former Thai PM Thaksin Smiles Out Of Court
JAKARTA - Former Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra was acquitted on charges of defamation of the kingdom today, Friday 22 August.
Thaksin has left the court ahead of his lawyer. When out of court, Thaksin smiled and spoke briefly that the case that ensnared him was stopped.
This release is considered to eliminate threats to the political dynasty of Thaksin, which has dominated Thai politics for two decades.
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The 76-year-old man previously faces up to 15 years in prison.
However, Bangkok Court found Thaksin innocent on charges of violating royal lese-majiste law after he criticized Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family.
"The court rejected the indictment against Thaksin, deciding that the evidence submitted was not sufficient," Thaksin's attorney, Winyat Chatmontree, told reporters, Friday, August 22, quoted from AFP.
This case stems from Thaksin's statement in an interview session with South Korean media in 2015 regarding the 2014 military coup that toppled his sister, Yingluck.